Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

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Doing What You Can
Volume 84, Program 12
8/19/2008

The supermom image can be a homeschooling mother’s arch-nemesis, and parents with disabilities often feel especially inadequate. On today’s Home School Heartbeat with HSLDA President Mike Smith, a mom with MS discusses what homeschooling looks like when you need to make accommodations for a disability.

Mike Smith:
Today on the program, I’m joined by KarenAnne Carlson, a mom who has homeschooled with multiple sclerosis for the last 24 years. KarenAnne, thanks for being with us today.

KarenAnne Carlson:
Thank you! I’m glad to be here.

Mike:
KarenAnne, how can a parent with a chronic illness have realistic expectations about homeschooling?

KarenAnne:
In the early ’80s, I was having several dreams fulfilled. And one of those was getting married and having a new baby and getting to homeschool, which was a new phenomenon in our area. And another thing that happened, which was unexpected, was that I was diagnosed with MS. And we had to learn to just try to get through each day, and that was my only goal, was to finish the day.

I rested when I needed to, and oftentimes my children would see me lying down on the sofa, and they knew that Mom had to rest because of health reasons. And they learned to play by themselves, and as they were doing schoolwork, they would adjust to that. And I continued to train and discipline my children and also manage the home. But it was not on the same type of schedule that a healthy person would do it.

So, all in all, we managed.

Mike:
Thanks for that encouragement! We look forward to having you again on our next program. And until then, I’m Mike Smith.

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